Spool case for cameras and for cinematograph and similar projection apparatus



Sept. 18, 192,8.

sPooL CAsE FCR Filed Feb. 1.1927

J. E. THORNTON CAMERAS AND FCR SIMILAR PROJECTION AP PARATUS C I NEMATOGRAPH AND 2 sneet'sfsheet 1 Elftown? Sept. .18, 1928. 1,685,010

. J E. THORNTON SPOOL CASEIFOR CAMERAS AND FOR CINEMATOGRAPH AND SIMILAR PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1. 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 'Tiri E. *I 2 Patentedbsept. i8, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.TOI-IN EDWARD THORNTON, OF WEST HAMPSTEAD, LONDON, ENGLAND.

SPOOL CASE FOR CAMERAS AND FOR CINEMATOGRAPH AND APPARATUS.

Application led February 1, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to spool-cases for containing continuous film ribbons for use in projectors for exhibiting cinematograph (motion) pictures or stationary (series) pictures or for use in cameras for obtaining such pictures.

The object of the invention is to provide a spool case or film-container in which the film contents are locked in the container or case by mechanism or a device which is only released by the insertion of the spool-case or container in the projector or camera.. The film is preferably provided with a blank leader-strip which is not prevented by the locking mechanism or device from being pulled out of the spool-case or container before the latter is inserted in the projector or camera, so that there is a protruding length of such leader-strip which can be freely manipulated in any desired manner, such as by threading it into or through the gate 0r analogous mechanism and attaching its free end to a winding reel' or to a blank leader-strip attached to such reel.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which several forms of the invention are illustrated. In these draWin s:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of same. p

Fig. 3 is a front view of same.

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, of another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a View of the film and leaderstrip used therein?.

s Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of a further form of the invention, Fig. 7 showing the spool-case in the locked position and Fig. 8 showing it in the open position after being insertedyin the projector or camera.

The spool-case shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a cylindrical box or case A of metal having a tangential slot or passage ai through which the film can be withdrawn.

A film winding core or bobbin B of any suitable construction is mounted Within the case Aa The core or bobbin B is hollow for the passage of a spindle and the two sides lof the case are provided with corresponding apertures al for the same purpose.

One end of the film C is attached tothe core or bobbin B in any suitable way. A

SIMILAR PROJECTION' 165,231, and in Great Britain December 11j, 1925.

blank fireproof leader-strip is preferably arranged between the end of the film and the core or reel B. A second blank leader-strip D, preferably of iireproof material, is aflixed to the other endof the film and this leaderstrip D hasa central ,slot d running longitudinally for a considerable portion of its length. i

A curved armor lever E is pivoted at each side of the case A and each arm or lever E is held in' itsnorinal position by a spring e, the position of each lever being such that it partly covers an aperture al in the case A for the passage of the spindle. The two levers E are connected together at vtheir free ends by a bar e1 which carries an *upwardly extending bolt El which passes transversely through the tangential slot or passage a.' through which the film C is dra-wn out of the spool-case. l 5" The bolt El is arranged midway between the ysides of the case A and, when the levers E'are in their normal positions, it extends upwards to the top of the passage or slot` a. Thus when a film is wound in the case on the reel B with the fireproof leader-strip I) protruding from the outer end of the passage or slot a, the bolt E1 will pass through the longitudinal slot el in the leader-strip D. The latter can thus be pulled out from the core or reel B until the inner end of the slot d comes into contact with the bolt El which prevents any further withdrawal.

The protruding length of the fireproof leader-strip D can therefore be freely manipulated in any desired manner without possibility that the film C may be Withdrawn from the case A. or through the gate or analogous mechanism of a projector or camera. and its free end may be attached by a suitable fastener d1 to the winding reel or preferably to a leader-strip attached to such winding reel.

The vfilm in the case A is then in positionl ready to be withdrawn and wound upon the Windingmeeh but is stopped and prevented by the bolt E. The operator, in the case of a 'projector7 may in the interval leave the fireproof leaderstrip in the path of the light or light-beam for a time that would damage or fire the film itself. but does not damage or lire the iirepro'of leader-strip.

The spindle F in the projector or camera is formed with a tapered or conical end f over which the spool. case A is passed. As

It can be lthreaded into the case A is passed over the conical end f of the spindle F the latter` engages the upper edges ot the levers E gradually depressing them against the action ot the springs e. The depression ot' the levers E pulls down the bolt El and withdraws it from the longitudinal slot (l of the leader-strip D so that the remainder of the leader-strip D followed by the iilm C can be withdrawn from the spool case A by the operation of the usual operating handle or mechanism of the projector or camera.

The film is withdrawn from the case A until the leader-strip, by which it is attached to the core or bobbin B, is reached.

' After all the iilm C has been withdrawn and exhibited the driving motion ot' the projector or camera may be reversed, whereupon the film C and its leader-strips are wound or drawn back again into the spool-ease A, where the film is inally protected by the leader-strip D after it has been disconnected from the reel or the leader-strip aiiixed thereto. The spool-case A can then be removed frorn the spindle F in the projector or camera, whereupon `the springs e return the levers E to the normal position and the bolt El passes through the slot d in the leader strip D, thus again locking the tihn in the spool case.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 the locking bolt El is separate from the arms E and is held in the locked position by a flat surface e2 connecting the arms E. Moreover the arms E,"instead Ot being pivoted to thesides ot the case A, move in slides a2 formed thereon. The arms E are formed with apertures e3 which, when the arms are held innormal position by the springs e, leave 'uncovered only a small portion of the apertures al in the case A. The passing of the spool-case on to conical end f ot' the spindle F in the projector or camera causes the arms E to be drawn back against the action of the springs e and the surface e2 to be withdrawn from the bolt El which consequently falls out of the locking position. A lightspriner e4 may be employed to assist the downward. movement of the bolt El.

When the case A is removed from the spindle F the springs e pull back the arms E to their normal position and the incline e5 in front of the flat surface e2 returns the bolt El to its locked position.

The arms E, instead ot actuating a locking bolt, may have their outer ends connected by a plate G provided with an aperture g narrower in width than the width of the film U, as shown in Figs. 5 and G. rThe springs e normally hold the arms E in such position as to ahnostcover the apertures al of the case A, at which time the plate G covers the passage a except for the aperture (7 in such plate. ln this case the leader strip D or a portion thereof is narrower than the Width.

of the film C, so that shoulders (Z2 (see Fig. (i) are formed which engage with the plate G when the latter is in the locked position.

When the spool ease A is passed over the conical end of the spindle F in the projector or camera the arms E are depressed and the plate G withdrawn from the passage a, thus allowing the film C to be withdrawn from the spool case.

Whenthe iilm C been re-wound into the spool-case A and the latter has been removed from the spindleF, the springs e return the arms to their normal position and the plate G is consequently also returned to its locked position.

The arms E may be dispensed with, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the spool case may be formed in two halves A1 and A2 hinged together at a7 Vand normally held closed by the springs a3.

A small flat aperture a? is formed, in each face of the case A to receive the conical end f of the spindle F of the projector or camera, and an aperture a is formed in the periphery of the case through which the tireproot' leader strip D can protrude. The aperture a5 is narrower than the width ot' the tilm C so that the latter cannot be withdrawn when the two halves A1 and A2 are closed together. In this case the leader strip D or a portion thereof is narrower than thewidth of the film C so that shoulders d2 (see Fig. 6) aretormed which engage with the case at the sides of the apertures a5 when the two arts Al and A2 of the spool ease are in the c osed position.

When the spool-case is passed over the conical end f ot the spindle F in the projector or spool case-the two parts Al, A2 are forced apart against the action of the springs a3 and the film C can then be withdrawn from the case.

At'ter the film C and leader-strip D have been rewoun into the spool case and the latter removed from the spindle F, the springs a return the two parts A and A2 into their closed position andthe film is again prevented from being withdrawn from the case.

The spool-case is shown in the various figures of the drawings with inner and outer walls; the pivoted arms and springs being arranged in the space between the two Walls.

It desired, the case may be formed with a single wall and pivoted arms and springs arranged on the inside thereof.

A spool-case formed in accordance with this invention is applicable for use with single-width or double-width ilm, and for one-way or two-way exhibition, and 'for lateral shift or inversion between exhibits of first and second row picture series.

What l claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is l. A spool case and film carrier for con-A and leader-strip D have tinuous ribbons for use in projectors for the exhibition of pictures or in cameras, comprising a casing to contain a spool of lin having a blank leader strip affixed to the free end of the film, said casing having means for locking the blank leader strip against, withdrawal from the casino, said casing also having means operable by the insertion of the spoolcase into a rojcctor or camera for releasing said leadbr strip locking,r ineens.

2. A spool-case or iilm-container accordin; r io claim l, wherein the leader strip locking means comprises a sliding bolt adapted to engage in a longitudinal slot formed in the leader-strip and to lock the leader strip against-movement until the bolt is Withdrawn.l f

3. A spool-ease or film-container according to claim l, wherein the leader strip lockn ing means comprises a sliding bolt adapted to engage in a longitudinal slot formed on the leader-strip, and arms pivoted to the casing:l and carrying the sliding bolt, said arms being depressible to release the bolt when the spoel case is placed on the spoolearrying spindle of a projector or camere.

4. A spool-Case or film-container accordn ing to claim l, wherein the leader strip lock truding tab or end of a fireproof and light-I proof leader-strip forming a continuation of the filmstrip and provided with means for connecting `the protruding leader-strip with the receiving-reel of a projector or camera without opening the spoolcase or withdrawing its film-contents; and means operable by the insertion of the spool ease in e projector or camera for automatically unloc ring the spoolcase and releasing its film-contents.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN EDWARD THORNTON. 

